Video: Brokaw: 9/11 is a ‘time of reflection’

Closed captioning of: Brokaw: 9/11 is a ‘time of reflection’

>>>this was the scene hundreds of workers at
world trade center
pausing for a moment of silence this morning as a giant flag was unfurled on the new one
world trade center
tower that is under construction there, rising above
lower manhattan
.
tom brokaw
spent over
100 hours
at the anchor desk after the 9/11 attacks and two weeks after the day, he wrote a piece for the "new york times" that turned into a kind of prediction, quote, this new
war on terrorism
will be fought less conventionally and it could lead us into a deep recession. and he asked, quote, will the surge of bipartisan spirit endure, washing away the petiness that devals
public life
and alienates voters? that was back on
september 28
,
2001
. here we are
september 9
,
2011
. tom is back with us. and tom, the question i want answered is this. the only thing comparable in
american life
is
pearl harbor
, did this change our generation and our people more than that attack changed the
american people
back then?

>>i don't think so, because then it was all in, it was
world war ii
, the entire world was at stake, and one of the big differences between then and now of course is that nothing much was asked of the rest of us after 9/11, we stayed at home. those who went into uniform and fought the wars in iraq and afghanistan, less than 1% of the population, took 100% of the bullets for us, so that is a significant difference.
world war ii
, everybody was involved. they joined in at home and they gave up things, they stopped manufacturing
consumer goods
so they could build war material, a newer kind of airplane, everybody every night was conscious of what was going on in the war.

>>of course we'll all pause on sunday, you and i will be down there together and you write about our cancerous divisive politics and we see what happened ten years later.

>>i think one of the opportunities that this anniversary may give us, because we're going to start hearing the stories tonight on "dateline" of the survivors and the family members who lost someone, in every case, man, woman and child, they said it was an emotional blow that i will never recover from, but i decided to have a
better life
, more focused and more meaningful. if they can do that given their loss, it -- this is a time that's what memorials are about and anniversaries, of reflection. what do we reflect on? how do we take stock of who we are and the best reflections are those who went through the worst, brian.

Nationwide, rituals of remembrance took place and Americans weighed Sept. 11's meaning for them as final preparations were being made Friday for the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks. Here are some of them.

Ground Zero
At 9:08 a.m., hundreds of construction workers stopped work to bow their heads. Several air horns sounded in unison and the normally frantic pace of construction became quiet.

Sing it loud
Celebrities — along with sailors, nuns, drag queens, ballerinas and a Spider-Man — gathered in Times Square on Friday to belt out "New York, New York," the John Kander and Fred Ebb song made famous by Frank Sinatra.

The event was put on to support the 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance's I Will Campaign, which asks people to observe the anniversary by performing good deeds, supporting charitable causes, volunteering and engaging in acts of compassion.

Sense of loss, grace in Shanksville, Pa.
In this quiet, remote part of western Pennsylvania, people from all over the country came to pay their respects to the passengers and crew of United Flight 93, which crashed into a desolate field nearly 10 years ago.

Nicholas Kamm
/
AFP - Getty Images

Courtney Peller (left), 14, Taylor Duffy (center) and Caitlin Rakowski, both 15, look at the field in Shanksville, Pa., on Friday, where United flight 93 crashed on September 11, 2001.

Family members of those who died on Flight 93 shed tears Friday, but they also celebrated the spirit of the crash site's guestbook — a rare feeling that people from vastly different walks of life had come together.

"I don't focus on what happened. You can't change that," said Lorne Lyles, whose wife, CeeCee Ross Lyles, had been working as a United Airlines flight attendant for only nine months on that September morning in 2001.

"Coming here is more of a celebratory thing. She's been memorialized," Lyles said. "Just to see the outpouring from all over the world is touching. You really do have some caring people in the world."

Kaiser returns
An Indianapolis rescue dog boarded a plane for New York, marking the canine's first time back since September 2001, when he became a hero at Ground Zero,
NBC affiliate WTRH-TV reported
.

Ten years ago, Kaiser was part of the FEMA search and rescue team, one of four dogs dispatched from Indiana to the World Trade Center in New York, WTRH reported.

Three hundred dogs in all assisted in the search and rescue that soon turned into a recovery effort and, even after that, evolved into somewhat of a therapy session.

After his years in search and rescue, Kaiser has settled into being a dog companion — with a break for a very busy weekend.

He was off for New York to guest on former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee's TV show, with plans to Indiana on Saturday so he can be the grand marshal at Carmel's Dog Day Afternoon and 9/11 tribute on Sunday.

Three horn blasts
In Cleveland, the 200-strong construction crew at the Medical Mart complex showed up to work wearing red, white and blue bandannas. Each worker had also slapped a "Never Forget" sticker on their hard hat.

At 8:45 a.m. and after three horn blasts, workers suspended operations at the $465 million downtown complex, The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported.

Somber gathering in Alabama
In Alabaster, residents were asked to bring flowers and notes of encouragement to place at the Veterans Park during a wreath-laying ceremony. The notes will be removed and kept at the city's Fire Department headquarters.

Honoring the day in Washington
In the nation's capital, President Obama issued a proclamation in "tribute to the selfless heroes and innocent victims" of the attacks, declaring Sunday as Patriot Day. "I ask all Americans to join together in serving their communities and neighborhoods in honor of the victims." See the president's full proclamation here.

The House adopted by unanimous consent a resolution declaring Sept. 11 a day of solemn commemoration and declaring that Congress was adjourned in respect for the victims. See a PDF of the resolution here.

Fallout at flight school

A decade after terrorists did the unthinkable, the former owner of the South Florida flight school where two of them trained

“The last ten years have been bad,” says Rudi Dekkers, the former owner of Huffman Aviation, in Venice, where hijackers Mohammed Atta and Marwan Al-Shehhi trained before Sept. 11.

Dekkers, now 55, didn’t lose any loved ones in the 9/11 attacks. But he says the financial losses and the losses to his reputation have been staggering. After dealing with government investigations, threats to his life, even a helicopter crash he calls “suspicious,” Dekkers says his life has never been the same.

“I did not realize when Sept. 11 happened, that I was involved,” said Dekkers.

Red, white and blue

Members of the armed forces hold a giant United States flag during the national anthem prior before the between the Chargers and the Vikings on Sept. 11, 2011 in San Diego.
(Donald Miralle / Getty Images)
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Patriotic flair

A Ravens player wears cleats emblazoned with "FDNY," while Panthers receiver Steve Smith displays his gloves. On the far right is Jets linebacker David Harris. Various athletes sported 9/11 tributes on their clothing.
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Flying high for the victims

Flags for our fathers and sons

A young San Francisco Giants fan holds his American flag sign during the singing of God Bless America during the Dodgers-Giants game on Sept. 11, 2011 in San Francisco.
(Tony Medina / Getty Images)
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Coast to coast

No bull

Texans mascot Toro slides down from the rooftop with the American flag before the team's home game against the Colts.
(Thomas B. Shea / Getty Images)
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Heavy hearts

First responders and Tuesday's Children family members, who lost loved ones in the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, carry a giant flag onto the field in a remembrance ceremony before the Mets baseball game against the Cubs Sept. 11, 2011.
(Kathy Kmonicek / AP)
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Man of steel

Steelers defensive back William Gay holds a United States flag next to Mike Martinez, who lost his legs while serving with the U.S. Marines in Afghanistan, before their game against the Ravens on Sept. 11, 2011, in Baltimore.
(Patrick Semansky / AP)
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Patriotic flag stick

Golfer Morgan Pressel removes the flag at the first green during the final round of the Wal-Mart NW Arkansas Championship in Rogers, Ark.
(Darren Carroll / Getty Images)
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Silent tribute

Miltary moment

Active duty and vertan members of the U.S. Military are greeted by the Cincinnati Reds as they march around the field during pregame activities.
(Doug Pensinger / Getty Images)
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A Tiger's true colors

Field of flags

A man wearing a fireman's hat stands while a United States flag spreads the field before the Bills-Chiefs game in Kansas City. Mo.
(Larry W. Smith / EPA)
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Overseas silence

The United States team observes silence in remembrance the 9/11 terrorist attacks during the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Plymouth, New Zealand.
(Sandra Mu / Getty Images)
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A reminder

A fan holds up a sign during the moment of silence before the Nationals-Astros game on Sept. 11, 2011 in Washington.
(Greg Fiume / Getty Images)
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Sorrow at Shea

Bobby Amos holds a U.S. flag before the start of a game between the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves at Shea Stadium in New York on Sept. 21, 2001.
(Mark Lennihan / AP)
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Chief concern

Kayla Morse, of Shawnee, Kan., has her face painted with stars and stripes instead of the traditional red and gold as she attends the New York Giants-Kansas City Chiefs NFL game on Sept. 23, 2001.
(Charlie Riedel / AP)
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The pastime pauses

For the first time since D-Day on June 6, 1944, all baseball games were postponed on Sept. 11, 2001 by order of commissioner Bud Selig.
(Gary Tramontina / AP)
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Coming together

The Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks meet in the center of the infield to hold the American flag during the singing of "God Bless America" on Sept. 17, 2001.
(David Zalubowski / AP)
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'God Bless America'

New York Mets fans hold up an American flag as Diana Ross sings "God Bless America" at Shea Stadium prior to the Braves-Mets game on Sept. 21, 2001.
(Mike Segar / Reuters file)
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Eerie Enron

A year later

Fans stand at Yankee Stadium in New York on Sept. 11, 2002 during pregame ceremonies in honor of the first anniversary of last year's terrorist attacks.
(Ted S. Warren / AP)
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Home of the brave

Fans attending the Atlanta Braves' game with the New York Mets show their patriotism and support for 9/11 victims on Sept. 11, 2002.
(John Bazemore / AP)
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Ultimate warrior

Pat Tillman is shown as a strong safety with the Arizona Cardinals during a game against the Oakland Raiders on Oct. 4, 1998. Tillman, who quit the NFL and joined the U.S. Army in response to 9/11, was killed in Afghanistan in April, 2004.
(Todd Warshaw / Getty Images)
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Honoring Pat

Pat Tillman's widow Marie Tillman and brother Richard Tillman applaud as they watch Pat's name and jersey number enshrined in Arizona State's ring of honor on Nov. 13, 2004. Tillman, who gave up a NFL career to join the U.S. Army and later became a Ranger, died in Afghanistan in April, 2004.
(Paul Connors / AP)
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Tight security

Meeting Mariano

Longtime star New York Yankees relief pitcher Mariano Rivera talks with children who lost parents in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, on July 26, 2011, before a baseball game at Yankee Stadium. From left are Cary Jones, Joe McHugh, Amish Sattaluri and Patrick Hannaford.
(Kathy Kmonicek / AP)
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Mugging for the camera

New York Yankees first baseman Nick Swisher poses for Julia Jones and her brothers, Cary, left and Joseph, of Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y., on July 26, 2011 before a game with the Seattle Mariners. The children's father, Arthur Jones, died at the World Trade Center in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
(Kathy Kmonicek / AP)
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Somber visit for Cup king

Jimmie Johnson, who has won five straight NASCAR Sprint Cup championships, and his wife Chani Johnson look at objects related to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the Pentagon during a visit to the Pentagon on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2011.
(Ned Dishman / Getty Images)
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Eyes and ears

Tennis fans arrive for the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2011. From bomb-sniffing dogs to pat-downs of fans, security will be tight at 13 NFL games and the U.S. Open on Sunday, the 10th anniversary of 9/11.
(Charlie Riedel / AP)
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Watchful eyes

Red, white and Busch

The crew for Kyle Busch rolls his car out of the garage prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, Va., Saturday Sept. 10.
(Zach Gibson / AP)
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Point made

Cadets unfurl a large American flag during halftime of the San Diego State-Army NCAA college football game in West Point, N.Y., Saturday, Sept. 10.
(Hans Pennink / AP)
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Still angry

East Carolina fans cheer following a moment of silence for 9/11 victims before the East Carolina's home college football game against Virginia Tech in Greenville, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 10.
(Karl Deblaker / AP)
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